Sewer slime can hang on to SARS-CoV-2 RNA from wastewater
During the COVID-19 pandemic, monitoring the levels of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater entering treatment plants has been one way that researchers have gauged the disease's spread. But could the slimy microbial communities that line most sewer pipes aff.....»»
Airborne poop probes: CDC considers testing airline sewage for pathogens
Wastewater testing has proven useful, and experts call for more sewage sampling. Enlarge / A bathroom on an Airbus A321neo. (credit: Getty | Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto) The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is.....»»
Cheap sewer pipe repairs can push toxic fumes into homes and schools—here"s how to lower the risk
Across the U.S., children and adults are increasingly exposed to harmful chemicals from a source few people are even aware of......»»
Host-cell factors involved in COVID-19 infections may augur improved treatments
Researchers at University of California San Diego and UC Riverside have further elucidated the molecular pathway used by the SARS-CoV-2 virus to infect human lung cells, identifying a key host-cell player that may prove a new and enduring therapeutic.....»»
Novel nanofiltration membrane shows high efficiency in acidic wastewater treatment
A research group led by Prof. Wan Yinhua from the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a novel catalytic template–assisted interfacial polymerization strategy to prepare a highly permeable acid-res.....»»
X-ray light reveals how virus responsible for COVID-19 covers its tracks, eluding the immune system
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS CoV-2 virus, continues to threaten populations around the world, after killing over 1 million Americans. In recent weeks, XBB.1.5, the most transmissible variant to date, has started to sweep across the count.....»»
US acceptance of COVID vaccines rises, now like other Western democracies
Despite the controversy, the US's vaccine acceptance looks very European. Enlarge (credit: Luis Alvarez) COVID vaccines remain the safest way to reduce the chance that SARS-CoV-2 can put you in the hospital and are a cri.....»»
A $3,300 self-driving stroller is at this year"s CES. Are parents ready?
Hang onto your baby bonnets: Self-driving technology is coming to strollers......»»
Brown algae removes carbon dioxide from the air and stores it in slime
Brown algae take up large amounts of carbon dioxide from the air and release parts of the carbon contained therein back into the environment in mucous form. This mucus is hard to break down for other ocean inhabitants, thus the carbon is removed from.....»»
Tracing the origins of Christmas traditions: From Santa to KFC
Every year, families who celebrate Christmas decorate their tree and hang stockings in anticipation of the arrival of Santa Claus. But what does this have to do with the religious holiday itself?.....»»
New method to find antibiotic-resistant genes shows limits of "snapshot" samples, chlorination
Testing the contents of a simple sample of wastewater can reveal a lot about what it carries, but fails to tell the whole story, according to Rice University engineers......»»
New model highlights importance of virus size in SARS-CoV-2 replication
As the world recovers from the economic and social impacts of COVID-19, researchers like Mattia Bacca continue to study SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses to be better prepared for future pandemics......»»
Viewpoint: With historic droughts on the rise, we must reclaim our water
The climate crisis challenges our water supply in many ways, from deadly hurricanes to widespread and severe droughts. To combat water scarcity, neighborhoods and communities must reconsider the design of their wastewater systems......»»
Space research: Is it feasible to reuse high salinity wastewater as a plant nutrient medium for plant hydroponics?
The water cycle is an important part of the controlled ecological life support system (CELSS). It involves the supply of drinking water and plant irrigation water, and the recycling of urine, sanitary waste water, and air condensate water. Using urin.....»»
Germicidal UV lamps: A trade-off between disinfection and air quality
When winter chill strikes, people stay indoors more often, giving airborne pathogens—such as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza—prime opportunities to spread. Germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) lamps can help disinfect circulating air, but their UVC wavelengths.....»»
Coronavirus drug target that could halt virus replication identified
Structural details of an attractive drug target in coronaviruses that could be used against SARS-CoV-2 and in future pandemics have been published by international teams co-led by UCL researchers......»»
Study indicates SARS-CoV-2 variants are still transmissible between species
Scientists believe bats first transmitted SARS-CoV-2 to humans in December 2019, and while the virus has since evolved into several variants such as delta and omicron, a new study indicates the virus is still highly transmissible between mammals. Res.....»»
Accelerating plastic degradation in the environment: Study researches heat resistance of enzymes
Numerous plastics are principally biodegradable, but are only degraded very slowly in the open air, wastewater, or composting plants. Known enzymes with the ability to degrade plastics could solve this problem......»»
Novel mix-charged nanofiltration membrane developed for wastewater treatment
A research group led by Prof. Wan Yinhua from the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a novel "etching-swelling-planting" strategy following interfacial polymerization (IP) to prepare a mix-charged.....»»
Costa Rica crocodiles survive in "most polluted" river
In one of the most polluted rivers in Central America, a vulnerable crocodile species is thriving despite living in waters that have become a sewer for Costa Rica's capital, experts say......»»
To stop new viruses jumping across to humans, we must protect and restore bat habitat
Bats have lived with coronaviruses for millennia. Details are still hazy about how one of these viruses evolved into SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID in humans. Did it go directly from bats to humans or via another animal species? When? And why? If we.....»»